The City of Ottawa expanded the Trillium Line to improve transit service, address connectivity gaps, and strengthen links across the city through corridor upgrades, new stations, and a connection serving Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.
MSF: 72,100 SF
(6,700 SM)
Challenge
Expanding an operational light rail system required balancing upgrades to existing stations with the design of new facilities that could accommodate future growth. The stations needed to provide intuitive connections between rail, bus, commuter parking, and surrounding communities while reinforcing a consistent transit identity across the network.
Solution
We designed seven of the line’s thirteen aboveground stations, including Bayview, Carling, Carleton, Mooney’s Bay, Greenboro, South Keys, and Bowesville. New stations were developed from concept through construction documentation, while existing facilities received platform extensions and upgrades to shelters, furniture, wayfinding, safety, accessibility, and passenger circulation. We also designed the new Maintenance and Service Facility, supporting daily rail operations and maintenance activities.
Outcome
The completed Trillium Line is fully integrated with Ottawa’s Confederation Line and bus network, improving connectivity across the city. Enhanced transit access, new interchange facilities, and support for transit-oriented development position the corridor to serve communities for years to come.
Designed for accessibility and passenger flow, the station creates a clear and welcoming point of arrival
Airport Connection
The Trillium Line expansion added four new stations, plus a 4-kilometre airport spur serving Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport and the EY Centre.
Our team designed seven of the line’s 13 aboveground stations, establishing a consistent architectural identity across the Trillium Line while allowing for future expansion of Ottawa’s transit network.
The Maintenance and Service Facility supports the daily fueling, inspection, and servicing of Trillium Line vehicles
The City of Ottawa embarked on a two-year project to improve and extend the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Trillium Line through the O-Train South Extension, part of the Stage 2 LRT Expansion. The project included upgrades to the existing 8 km north–south line, with two new stations added to better serve local communities and address service gaps. The existing stations underwent platform extensions and amenity upgrades to shelters, furniture, wayfinding and safety. As part of the 11 km extension, four new stations were built with facilities for rail/bus interchange, park and ride, and commuter parking. A 4 km spur line was also part of the project and added two more stations serving the Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport and the EY Centre.
NORR designed seven of the thirteen aboveground stations, including Bayview, Carling, Carleton, Mooney’s Bay (Confederation), Greenboro, South Keys and Bowesville. South Keys and Bowesville were new stations designed from concept through construction documentation, while the other five varied in scope of renovations. The station design reinforced a system identity unique to Ottawa’s light rail network and remains adaptable for future extensions. The primary design features create an intuitive, safe and positive ridership experience, with improvements for passenger flow, accessibility, and connections between station plazas and local buses, trains and the community.
NORR also designed the new Maintenance and Service Facility (MSF), which includes a main service and maintenance building, management and operations center, a rail vehicle wash building, and various structures that support daily fueling, inspection and servicing of the LRT vehicles.
The completed Trillium LRT line is integrated with Ottawa’s Confederation LRT line and bus network. It also supports transit-oriented development within local communities. The project was delivered as a Public-Private Partnership (P3) by a large multidisciplinary team led by AtkinsRéalis.
